Man files police brutality claim

STOCKTON - Stockton police are investigating a claim of brutality filed against the department following Sunday night's arrest of Tywan Alexander, 20, a mentally disturbed resident of central Stockton.

Joe Goldeen

STOCKTON - Stockton police are investigating a claim of brutality filed against the department following Sunday night's arrest of Tywan Alexander, 20, a mentally disturbed resident of central Stockton.

Stockton police were originally dispatched to Alexander's address on a domestic abuse call, but they found no victim. But the alleged victim told The Record she was Alexander's girlfriend for three years but broke up with him three months ago and hasn't seen or spoken to him since then.

Alexander said he was alone in his studio apartment in the 400 block of North California Street at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, listening to rap music on his headphones when a phone call came through from his mother, Demetria Carruthers. She informed Alexander the police were in the hallway outside his door, knocking and telling him to open up. She was in the hallway too, filming a video with her cellphone.

According to Alexander, Carruthers, 51, and two of their friends who live in the apartment complex, Rachel Smith, 45, and Carletta Featherson, 25, police officers used excessive force several times while arresting Alexander.

After knocking, police used a passkey allegedly provided to them by the apartment complex's security guard to enter Alexander's studio. Alexander said he "flipped out."

"They put him in handcuffs and started beating him - four of them," Carruthers said. "One of them had their knee on his head."

Alexander, Carruthers and the witnesses also allege one officer pulled Alexander by his hair braids.

Outside, hands still cuffed behind his back, Alexander became upset while seated in the back of a patrol car.

The video then showed an agitated Alexander being removed from the patrol car, placed face down on the sidewalk and put in a safe-wrap device to secure his legs and upper body. The video shows five officers going about their job without striking Alexander.

At the police station while being fingerprinted, Alexander said he got his handcuffed arms in front of him. That action upset the arresting officers, one of whom he said punched him. At one point, saying he was in fear for his life, Alexander admitted he threatened to kill the officer.

"I cannot discuss the specific details of this case because a complaint has been filed and it's currently under an administrative investigation. I can confirm this is an individual who on prior occasions has been violent towards officers and was arrested in the past for resisting arrest and domestic violence.

"Tywan Alexander was also arrested on Aug. 16, 2013, after he arrived at his apartment complex and vandalized a vehicle. As a result of the vandalism, Tywan was involved in a violent confrontation with another person. He also has pending charges from an incident this past May where he failed to show up to court after he promised to appear."

Carruthers said her son has been diagnosed from childhood with a number of mental disabilities, including bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He receives benefits through the federal Supplemental Security Income program and gets treatment at San Joaquin Behavioral Health Services, he and his mother said.